Surrounded by her four computer screens and towering stacks of paper, Elaine D’Amico is racing against the clock.
For the past decade, the Thorold bookkeeper has voluntarily prepared tax returns for people who have a modest annual income (the current guidelines are $30,000 or less for a single person, $45,000 for a married couple), free of charge.
The scenario is a bit different this year, though.
Under normal circumstances, D’Amico camps out with her clients at the Thorold Seniors Centre, where she actively volunteers year-round, applying for grants for equipment, organizing daily and special events, and devoting countless hours to enhance the lives of local seniors.
“In the past, I would do returns at the Seniors Centre and people would come in and talk to me,” she explained to Thorold News. “It’s a service I’ve done for 10 years now. I enjoy helping them out. A lot of them are lower income, seniors, or on ODSP.”
But the pandemic has complicated matters, so she’s collecting clients’ paperwork from various drop-off locations, and then following up by communicating with each one via telephone, or virtually.
Adding to her workload this year is the fact that her two regular co-volunteers, both of whom are seniors, feared risking involvement in the midst of the Covid-19 situation. And the challenge of calculating clients’ CERB payments into the mix has made many returns more time-consuming.
D’Amico has also volunteered to process free tax returns for clients of Community Care for several years. This year, she’s added clients from Project Share and Gateway of Niagara to her rapidly growing caseload.
Luckily, her daughter, who’s studying to become a chartered accountant, is pitching in to help.
Amidst the pressure of completing all returns by the appointed deadlines, D’Amico is continuing her behind-the-scenes work to re-open the Thorold Seniors Centre, implementing safety protocols, like installing new protective plexi-glass, among others.
She hopes that once the majority of seniors are vaccinated, that “At least we can have a drop-in centre soon,” to offer a place that provides critical physical, mental and social support.
With 35 years experience in completing tax returns, D'Amico invites anyone who has a modest income and a simple tax situation to drop off their tax files at the following three locations in Thorold:
Community Care Thorold – 19 Albert St. West, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.; The Thorold Public Library – 14 Ormond St. North, Monday and Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and The Thorold Community Activities Group – 131 Richmond St., Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
All paperwork must be signed and the client’s phone number must be provided. Each taxpayer will be contacted with further instructions on how to complete their taxes.
The free program runs until the end of April, 2021.
For more information, visit: canada.ca/taxes-help or call 1-800-959-8281.
